2020.03.31
THE International Baccalaureate (IB) has cancelled examinations amid the coronavirus pandemic, putting paid to some local candidates’ hopes of entering university.
Examinations scheduled between 30 April and 22 May for diploma and career-related programme candidates were cancelled and students will be given scores based on their coursework and assessment in schools.
But Ng Po-shing (吳寶城), student guidance consultant at Hok Yau Club (學友社), said the cancellations could affect candidates who hang their hopes on their performance in the public examinations.
“Some students perform better in public examinations than in schools, so they may be disadvantaged,” he said.
But he believed the impact on their chance of entry will not be too significant in general since other examinations in other countries have also been cancelled.
Calling the cancellation “the most responsible and ethical” decision, the examination organiser said more details of the rearrangement will be announced shortly.
The two-year IB diploma programme, made up of six subject groups and a core score, allows students aged between 16 and 19 to enter higher education institutions.
Last year, there were over 166,000 IB candidates worldwide. There were 2,260 SAR candidates, mostly from over 30 international and directly subsidised schools.
(This article is published on Junior Standard on 31 March 2020)
HKDSE written tests to be delayed, oral exams cancelled
Virus takes a toll on more exams